G6PD Deficiency – The Oxidative Stress Trap on Step 1

Imagine this Step 1 classic: A young man develops jaundice and dark urine after eating fava beans. Labs show anemia and elevated LDH. What’s going on?

You’ve just entered the world of G6PD deficiency, a high-yield genetic disorder that connects biochemistry, hematology, and pharmacology all in one go. Today’s blog walks you through what you need to know—with a KOTC visual that simplifies oxidative stress and red blood cell damage.